Amory Street station
| Company type | Light rail station |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transportation |
| Founded | November 15, 2021 |
| Headquarters | Boston , United States |
| Products | Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) Green Line B branch service |
Amory Street station serves as a light rail stop on the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) Green Line B branch, situated within the median of Commonwealth Avenue on the western edge of the Boston University campus. This accessible station comprises two side platforms flanking two tracks, with entry points at Amory Street and Saint Paul Street.
Streetcar operations along Commonwealth Avenue commenced in 1896 under the auspices of the West End Street Railway. Over time, the line underwent changes in management and was designated as the Green Line B branch during the 1960s. Historically, separate stops existed at Boston University West (Amory Street) and Saint Paul Street. The initiative to merge these into a single accessible station was launched in 2014. Construction for Amory Street station, along with the nearby Babcock Street station, started in February 2021; both stations officially began service on November 15, 2021.
Station layout
Located within the median of Commonwealth Avenue between Saint Paul and Amory Streets, Amory Street station lies adjacent to Boston University's College of Fine Arts and College of General Studies facilities. The station includes two accessible side platforms, each approximately -long, serving the dual tracks of the B branch. Positioned centrally within a -long block, the platforms connect via walkways to the Saint Paul Street grade crossing and a pedestrian crossing at Amory Street. Both platforms are equipped with -long canopies characterized by distinctive undulating colored panels.
Streetcar service
The West End Street Railway introduced a streetcar line running through Commonwealth Avenue's median in the mid-1890s, initiating service between Governors Square and on May 18, 1896. Later that year, this route was extended to Nonantum Square, and on November 8, 1897, it began operating through the Tremont Street subway. Following this, the Boston Elevated Railway (BERy) leased the West End Street Railway on October 1, 1897, facilitating further expansion.[1] New track segments connecting Chestnut Hill Avenue to Brighton Avenue opened on May 26, 1900, allowing direct streetcar travel from Lake Street into downtown via Commonwealth Avenue. In 1912, the Nonantum Square route was extended to Watertown Yard, establishing a long-standing service pattern.
The BERy was succeeded by the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) in 1947, which itself was replaced by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) in 1964. In 1965, MBTA consolidated its remaining streetcar lines under the Green Line branding; by 1967, the Watertown route was designated as the Green Line A branch, while the Lake Street (Boston College) route became known as the B branch. The A branch ceased operations on June 21, 1969, leaving only the B branch active along Commonwealth Avenue. By 1972, modest platforms were located near Amory Street (later renamed Boston University West) and Saint Paul Street, spaced roughly apart.
In alignment with MBTA's public art program, six new station signs featuring artwork by Boston University College of Fine Arts alumnus Andy Bell were installed at Boston University West in 2010. Previously, in 2006, signage displayed "Open Space," an exhibition showcasing cloudscape images by undergraduate Seth Gadsden. Both art projects resulted from collaboration between MBTA and Boston University's College of Fine Arts.[2][3]
Halt to station consolidation
In 2014, the MBTA proposed merging four stops lacking accessibility near Boston University's West Campus—namely Boston University West, Saint Paul Street, Pleasant Street, and Babcock Street—into two fully accessible stations. This was part of a redesign of Commonwealth Avenue stretching from the Boston University Bridge to Packard's Corner. The plan involved combining Boston University West and Saint Paul Street into a single station located between Amory Street and Saint Paul Street. However, progress was hindered by additional roadwork along Commonwealth Avenue.
On March 23, 2020, a construction contract worth $17.8 million was awarded, with the project timeline set from February 2021 through early 2022. The work required night and weekend bus substitutions for much of 2021. In February 2021, the MBTA revealed that the new consolidated station would be called Amory Street. To support platform and canopy construction, bus service replaced trains between Washington Street and Kenmore from April until June 2021.
Following the last service on November 12, 2021, the Boston University West and Saint Paul Street stations were closed; the Amory Street station commenced operations on November 15. Additionally, Boston University planned to relocate Andy Bell's artworks to other locations on campus.